By Staff
From Staff Reports
July 23, 2001
The stage was set for the "all-Meridian" Cal Ripken 12-year-old State Championship in Oxford Tuesday night, after the Meridian Nationals rallied from a 7-1 deficit to defeat Vicksburg 8-7 on Monday.
Once again, the two Meridian teams, both of which are from Phil Hardin Park, displayed strong pitching and defensive skills, but the Meridian Americans pulled out to a 4-2 victory to claim the title over the Meridian Nationals.
Sam Dulaney gave up four hits and had a pair of strikeouts in three innings, while Justin Palmer allowed two hits and fanned four batters in three innings for the Meridian Americans.
Walton Mitts, William Alexander and Phillip Diveley combined for eight strikeouts for the Meridian Nationals.
Tournament Sportsmanship Award winner Jeremy Barncastle paced the Meridian Americans with a couple of doubles, followed by singles off the bat of Daniel Covert, Cameron Gordon, Lon Burt and Timothy Maloney.
Anthony Taylor led the Meridian Nationals, smacking a two-run homerun and a single, while Lindsey Spinks, Jon McCormick and Kane Holloman each had singles.
The Meridian Americans, led by coaches Von Burt, Curtis Butler and David Covert, will advance to the Cal Ripken Regional Tournament in Van Buren, Ark., July 27-31.